Peel Ports looks to the air

News 17 Oct 2017 by WCN Editorial

Air traffic control technology is to be applied to a commercial port group in the UK for the first time, claims Peel Ports Group

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In its port landlord capacity, Peel Ports is investing £2.7M across its network of seven statutory harbour authorities to streamline marine operations. The package of technologies includes vessel identification and tracking, solid-state radar and weather stations. It will be complemented by a new online booking system for its customers and a comprehensive people development programme.

All marine operations will transition over the coming months and will be managed centrally from a new industry-leading command centre at the company’s HQ in Liverpool. There will be supporting control operations and smaller satellite operations throughout the company’s port network that includes seven UK SHAs.

The centralised traffic control technology has been proven in the airline industry and at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s National Maritime Operations Centre.

David Huck, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Peel Ports, said: “This is a huge advance for our customers, our people and port operations generally. The technology will allow us to provide a more efficient, more resilient and safer service and will ensure that Peel Ports Group has a port control platform aligned to the Group’s future growth plans.

"Having already introduced AutoGates in Liverpool and the Navis N4 terminal operating system across our network, including the new Liverpool2 deep-water container terminal, we are leading the way in using technology to transform how ports work.”

To support the change the business has commenced some small-scale restructuring and both new and existing staff members will be trained to manage the systems as part of a new centralised team to be created throughout the group.

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